London Flat Scam Hit 23 Tenants, Costing Victims More Than £26,000
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 9
London Flat Scam Hit 23 Tenants, Costing Victims More Than £26,000
2 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 9
Summary
23 prospective tenants told the BBC they paid thousands to rent the same Poplar flat, only to find no keys on move-in day and multiple groups turning up for the same property.
£12,000, £7,200 and £9,460 were among the sums handed over after agent "Derrick Fringe" allegedly created urgency, demanded large upfront payments and then claimed existing tenants would not leave.
Kent Police are investigating after the case was passed on by Report Fraud; the BBC found different landlord names and bank details were used across contracts tied to the same address.
OpenRent said it removed the listing and suspended the account, while Zoopla did not respond; the purported agency website has been taken down and Arla Propertymark said it had no record of the firm.
Rental fraud losses have surged even as reported cases stayed broadly similar, with 4,178 cases costing £14.5 million in 2025 versus 4,642 cases costing £7.2 million in 2021.
As scammers exploit housing desperation, is London's high-pressure rental market the true culprit behind these crimes?
With the Renters' Rights Act now in effect, can new laws truly stop the rise of sophisticated rental fraud?
London’s £26,000 Rental Scam of 2026: How 23 Victims Were Targeted and What’s Next for Tenant Protection
Overview
In June 2026, a major rental scam was uncovered in London, targeting at least 23 tenants and causing financial losses of over £26,000. Most victims were students and young professionals, who suffered not only significant financial hardship but also emotional distress after losing deposits and advance rent payments. Many were left without housing and out of pocket. In response, one victim, Awosika, created a WhatsApp group to help others share information and support each other. This crisis highlights the vulnerability of renters in London’s competitive market and the urgent need for better tenant protections.